Sussex

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE?&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6.jpg" alt="The Royal St Leonards" class="wp-image-62056" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Saltwick Media</figcaption></figure>



There’s a reason why St Leonards made it onto <a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/best-places-to-live-sussex-st-leonards-on-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Muddy’s Best Places to live list</a> &#8211; and a large factor in that was the food scene. While the arts scene has been gradually exploding there, dining options have been getting more creative to match. <a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directorythe-royal-st-leonards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Royal</a> has been a power player in this movement. Situated on the corner of St Johns Road and the buzzing Kings Road, the gastropub has its fingers firmly on the foodie pulse since it opened in 2019. Within the first three years it had landed a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand &#8211; ooooh, fancy. However, there’s thankfully no pretension here &#8211; it’s unfussy food in a down-to-earth setting. Just how we like things. The building is beautiful (like so many of the facades in St Lenny’s) and dates back to the 1860s and with a menu that changes frequently and a warm welcome by James Hickson who runs the front of house (having worked at The Canton Arms, St John and Moro and also Great Queen Street in Covent Garden) he knows a thing or two about making an impression. And that’s something The Royal certainly does.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62058" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/3-6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Saltwick Media</figcaption></figure>



Sunday roasts at The Royal are a hit with locals, but Muddy went mid-week to see if the menu deserves just as much attention. The answer: Yes. It.Does. For a Wednesday evening there was just the right amount of buzz, you can happily have a conversation and not worry the table next to you can hear you. The dining area sits separately to the bar but you can still enjoy the relaxed atmosphere throughout. The pub’s colour palette is deep dark woods and green wall panelling, keeping things cosy with low lighting and tea lights on the tables, it did make the menu a little hard to read, but it created a warm atmosphere. We were there just before Christmas so it only added to mood.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62057" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-7-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



For a personal touch, a painting of the pub, (above) by one of the former kitchen porters takes pride of place above our table.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-and-quaff">SCOFF AND QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62052" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/1-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The week we went saw temperatures drop to minus numbers so we and our big appetites (well, even more so than normal) were were ready for some hearty grub. With a menu that changes frequently and with a focus on local and seasonal produce it certainly hit the spot. That’s before we get onto the wine list. Considering The Royal is twinned with nearby wine shop, <a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/bottle-of-hastings-hastings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bottle of Hastings</a> it’s no surprise that things are top tier with many more wines on offer than your usual gastro pub and plenty of real ales and draft beers.&nbsp;



We started on some drinks, the fact they had a delicate Crémant (a close contender to English Sparkling) already scored them highly in our books. My guest is gluten-intolerant, and the waitress quickly got us a different menu that made clear which options he could have and also what was suitable for vegans and vegetarians.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62053" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/2-6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



To kick things off I chose the pork croquette with gribiche sauce &#8211; it was huge (much to my liking) and had a super crunchy shell stuffed with pulled pork inside that was chunky, not stringy and set things off on the right note. My plus one opted for the smoked duck, celeriac and prunes, I tasted his too (all in the name of work, of course) and the duck was the prefect pink and the prunes gave it the right punch.&nbsp;



It was a tough call to decide on mains, the menu isn’t extensive but everything on there looked so delicious. I was torn between pork loin with borlotti beans, broccoli and green sauce, cuttlefish, mussels, orzo, chilli and aioli and braised venison, pancetta, swede mash and horseradish.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62054" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/5-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



I went for the venison, which melted on the tongue and was the hearty dish I’d been craving. The mash was chunky and my only complaint is that while the portion is ideal for normal sized stomachs, I could have eaten more. But that’s no doubt my greed. My pal was eyeing up the seabass, parsnip puree and brown shrimp butter but went for the beef rump, dauphinoise and red cabbage. Yes, I did try this one too and it was delicious. We had a side of the most buttery buttered greens imaginable, and a glass of red each &#8211; kindly chosen by the waitress who suggested a Pinot Noir and a Merlot.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3.jpg" alt="The Royal, St Leonards" class="wp-image-62055" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/7-3-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Did we have room for desserts? You bet ya! They had me at chocolate and caramel tart and had me all over again with the cherries, almonds and crème fraiche that accompanied it. The red wine poached pear with crème patissiere and hazelnut brittle was a showstopper, sure, it looked a little like the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter but it tasted like magic.&nbsp; It felt rude not to order a final swig of Crémant, hiccup, and it ended things off deliciously.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay">STAY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1.jpg" alt="The Relais, Cooden Beach" class="wp-image-62060" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/12/Untitled-design-1-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The newly opened <a href="https://www.therelaisretreats.com/coodenbeach" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Relais Cooden Beach</a> is a 20minute drive away and has been garnering attention for all of the right reasons. With sea views, and modern interiors it’s the ideal costal stay especially as it has a Hamptons vibe.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly">DOG-FRIENDLY?</h2>



Dogs are welcome in the pub section, not around diners.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about">OUT AND ABOUT</h2>



Art lovers will be in their element! Try&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bigyingallery.com/">Bin Yin</a>&nbsp;that supports emerging talent,&nbsp;<a href="https://stelladorestore.com/">Stella Dore</a>&nbsp;focuses on urban artists while the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thedirtyoldgallery.com/">Dirty Old</a>&nbsp;hosts workshops and charity exhibitions. A little further afield is the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/bodiam-castle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Trust’s 14th century Bodiam Castle</a>, just a 30 minute drive away.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



GOOD FOR: Anyone after a few relaxed drinks and some proper food without the fuss.&nbsp; NOT GOOD FOR: Anyone expecting fine dining finesse, this is a gastro pub after all. THE DAMAGE: Starters range from £7-£9, mains £16-£21, sides from £3 and desserts £6-£9.



<a href="https://theroyalstleonards.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Royal</a>, 1 St Johns Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6HP, <a href="tel:01424547797">01424 547 797</a>

Review: The Royal, St Leonards-On-Sea

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